A Brooklyn Nets reserve has emerged as the unlikely hero this season. His name is Sean Kilpatrick.
When I set sail on my 15 1/2 minute commute to Downtown Brooklyn on October 22 for my “Brooklyn Nets: Exploring the Area Around the Barclays Center” piece, my biggest disappointment wasn’t the frigid weather, nor the fact that I had to wipe away water droplets trickling down my phone screen every ten seconds. It was the And1 Store, which is just a two minute walk from the Barclays Center, not being open.
Why should we care about And1, you say? Well, here’s one (and possibly the only) reason: Sean Kilpatrick.
If you don’t know who Sean Kilpatrick is by now, I suggest you at least get informed about his journey to the Brooklyn Nets. But really, if you don’t know who he is by now, I may start questioning your loyalty.
The 26-year-old from Yonkers has been making a statement in his brief time with the Nets. Already, just eight games into the 2016-17 season, he is averaging 15.4 points, 4.3 rebounds, 2.5 assists, and one steals per game. Impressive for a guy who hopped from team to team in the D-League and NBA just a few years prior.
Brooklyn decided to use Kilpatrick off the bench this season, but that doesn’t mean that he is worth any less than the Nets’ starters. In fact, the sixth man role may suit Kilpatrick even better than the starting role, as he packs a major scoring punch in the Nets’ second unit. This makes him a strong candidate for Sixth Man of the Year.
He’ll be our hero this season, and it’s clear why he is loved by so many fans.